News: POLITICO Florida Playbook: Rubio's seesaw with Jan. 6, Trump and Pence

Monday, February 7, 2022

POLITICO Florida Playbook: Rubio's seesaw with Jan. 6, Trump and Pence

Feb 07, 2022

Presented by CVS Health

Good Monday morning.

Ride my seesaw — Sen. Marco Rubio, one of the few Florida Republicans to certify the 2020 election results, had quite the balancing act going over the weekend.

Question — Rubio appeared on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday and was asked to weigh in on former Vice President Mike Pence's decision to rebuke former President Donald Trump during an appearance at the Federalist Society conference held at Disney World.

The voice — Pence said on Friday that he had no right to overturn the election as Trump has insisted, and said "that power belongs to the American people." When pressed by CBS' Margaret Brennan, Rubio refused to say precisely that Trump was wrong. But he still agreed — in essence — with Pence. "I just don't think a vice president has that power because if the vice president has that power, Donald Trump would defeat Joe Biden in four years or two years, and then Kamala Harris can decide ... to overturn the election," he said. "I don't want to wind up there."

Go now — Rubio then apparently sided with the Republican National Committee, which on Friday censured the two Republicans working on the House committee investigating the Jan. 6th riots. Rubio called the committee "a partisan sham" designed to "embarrass" and "smear" Republicans, although he did say anyone who committed crimes on Jan. 6th deserved to be prosecuted. So the two answers together highlighted Rubio's attempt to distance himself somewhat from Trump but not so much as to draw too much attention to himself just months before he will be up for reelectoin.

The day begins — Democrats of course forcefully jumped on Rubio's remarks, with Florida Democratic Party spokesperson Grant Fox saying that "Marco Rubio was too weak to distance himself from those in his party who claim that the events of that day were 'legitimate political discourse.' His lack of courage to stand up for those who defended the Capitol and upheld our democracy is as pathetic as it is unpatriotic." Rep. Val Demings and Rubio's likely opponent this fall tweeted out "violence is not legitimate political discourse."

— WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official announced for Gov. DeSantis.

Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com

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DATELINE D.C.

BLOCKED — "' Genocide games': NBC refuses to run ad critical of China by NBA's Kanter, Florida congressman," by New York Post's Jon Levine: "NBC is refusing to broadcast an ad critical of China during the 2022 Winter Olympic games in Beijing, a US congressman says. The 30-second spot, purchased by Florida GOP Rep. Mike Waltz, blasted the event as the 'Genocide Games,' referenced China's long history of human-rights abuses, and called out major US companies for participating. Waltz, the first Green Beret to serve in Congress, has long been a tough China critic. He billed the $40,000 ad to his campaign."

... Waltz tweeted out the ad on Saturday. You can view it here.

TRANSITIONS — Todd Reid, who spent 11 years working as state director for Sen. Marco Rubio, has taken a position with public affairs firm Firehouse Strategies. Reid's last day with the Senate was Friday, and before he left he penned a lengthy email detailing the disasters and tragedies Rubio's office has responded to over the years. Reid, in his email, stated "I have long told everyone that I have the best job in the entire U.S. Senate. First, it's Florida. Any public policy issue — foreign or domestic — is here or eventually arrives on our shores. And for the past 11 years I have had the privilege of travelling the state and meeting with many of the people who make this state so wonderfully unique."

HAPPENING THURSDAY – A LONG GAME CONVERSATION ON THE CLIMATE CRISIS : Join POLITICO for back-to-back conversations on climate and sustainability action, starting with a panel led by Global Insider author Ryan Heath focused on insights gleaned from our POLITICO/Morning Consult Global Sustainability Poll of citizens from 13 countries on five continents about how their governments should respond to climate change. Following the panel, join a discussion with POLITICO White House Correspondent Laura Barrón-López and Gina McCarthy, White House national climate advisor, about the Biden administration's climate and sustainability agenda. REGISTER HERE.

CAMPAIGN MODE

WILES BRANCHES OUT — Susie Wiles, who helped Donald Trump win Florida twice and managed campaigns for both Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis, is joining Mercury and will be co-chair for the large public affairs firm's Florida and Washington, D.C., offices. "Susie is a veteran campaign strategist with an expert ability to put her finger on the pulse of any issue and effectively use her insight and perception to yield winning results," said Mercury Partner Ashley Walker in a statement. Wiles in a statement said "I am excited to join the bipartisan team of experts and established public strategists at Mercury. I look forward to working hard to provide successful outcomes on behalf of our world-class roster of clients in both Florida and D.C."

In an email obtained by POLITICO's Alex Isenstadt, Wiles made it clear that she would continue to serve as chair of Save America, the leadership PAC set up after Trump left office. She said Mercury will "be my corporate home and offers me new challenges and opportunities." The statement from Mercury on Wiles' hiring also mentioned that she plans to launch Public Strategy Advisors, a new company focused on electing Republicans.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? — " Levine Cava asks for probe after voters say party registrations were changed to GOP," by Miami Herald's Martin Vassolo: "Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava is asking prosecutors to investigate claims of "voter fraud" after elderly residents in Little Havana said their party affiliations were changed without their knowledge. A county spokeswoman wrote in an email late Friday that Levine Cava 'sent an official request to the State Attorney to investigate recent reports of voter registration fraud to ensure the integrity of the elections process.' Levine Cava, who made the request in an email to State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle, joined other Florida Democrats in calling for an investigation following complaints from residents of Haley Sofge Towers, a county-managed public housing complex in Little Havana."

WORTH THE READ — "Voting fraud conspiracy group has pipeline to Florida governor as election changes considered," by Sarasota Herald-Tribune's Zac Anderson: "Started by the Lakewood Ranch leader of a pro-Donald Trump women's organization, Defend Florida has mobilized an army of volunteers to collect "affidavits" that raise questions about whether voters cast legal 2020 ballots. The group has collected more than 5,000 affidavits in 34 counties, implying each is a possible instance of voter fraud. The claims appear to be getting serious consideration from GOP officials. Defend Florida co-founder Caroline Wetherington said the group met with Gov. Ron DeSantis' top staff on six occasions, while also securing meetings with Secretary of State Laurel Lee and top GOP legislators."

Response from GOP supervisor — "Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Mike Bennett met with Wetherington, who runs the realty division of luxury homebuilder Lee Wetherington Homes, and other Defend Florida representatives last October. Bennett said he quickly debunked the example Wetherington gave to argue there are problems with the county's voting roll. 'I caught them flat-footed,' Bennett said, adding: 'Since she didn't know how the system worked she thought there was something nefarious going on and we had all these unregistered voters. Simply not true.'"

— " AZ (State) Sen. Rogers rebuked after calling Florida combat vet a 'communist,'" by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres

... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...

ON DEFENSE — " Ladapo fires back at former UCLA supervisor who refused recommendation," by POLITICO's Arek Sarkissian: Embattled Florida Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo said that criticism from his former UCLA supervisor was a sign that differing scientific opinions have turned into personal attacks. Ladapo said in a phone interview that good science requires respect for all perspectives. "It's OK to disagree, and I've had no problem with disagreement, but what has been really disappointing is how disagreement has become a ticket or a passport to activate personal attacks," Ladapo said Thursday. "It's just sad, it's not scientific and it's disheartening."

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis addresses a question from the media as Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo looks on during a news conference in Jacksonville, Fla., on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis addresses a question from the media as Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo looks on during a news conference in Jacksonville, Fla., on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022. | Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union via AP

ATTENTION GETTING — " Insurance agent-backed language would change Citizens' board requirements amid Beruff scuffle," by POLITICO's Matt Dixon: " Legislators tucked language into a sweeping Senate insurance bill that would change qualifying requirements for the leadership of state-run Citizens Property Insurance, a move that comes as the organization's chair happens to be at odds with the association that wrote the proposal. The proposal, SB1728, is among the many provisions in legislation sponsored by Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) that is the Senate's response to Florida's collapsing property insurance market.

FOR YOUR RADAR — " House plans to rewire online education in Florida shocks schools," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: Lawmakers in the Florida House are proposing drastic tweaks to the state's virtual education laws in 2022 that opponents say would ultimately restrict school choice while ratcheting up costs for local campuses. Far-reaching legislation introduced Thursday alongside an initial House K-12 budget proposal would cut off school districts from contracting with Florida Virtual School for online classes and stop virtual charter schools from enrolling out-of-county students, services used by some 30,000 students in 2021-22.

FOR YOUR RADAR PT. 2 — " Environmentalists irked at Senate budget language protecting Lake Okeechobee water users," by POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie: Eve Samples of Friends of the Everglades said the bill language looks like a "ploy" to protect water for sugarcane farmers while putting public health at risk. Cities in the region also depend on the lake for their water supplies. Senate President Wilton Simpson in November had asked the Corps of Engineers to protect legal water users as the federal agency is writing a new lake operating manual. The bill language requires the district to certify, before the release of state funds, that its recommendations to the Corps of Engineers do not reduce the water supply available to existing legal users.

HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW — " Bill changing Florida nursing home standards was written by the industry, emails show," by Tampa Bay Times' Hannah Critchfield and Kirby Wilson: "Sen. Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, the bill's sponsor, said he filed the measure after the Florida Health Care Association brought him drafted language. But Albritton said the bill's language is a starting point meant to bring parties together on a solution to help ease the long-term care industry's staffing shortages."

Nothing to see here — "'They brought a piece of legislation that I looked at and felt like was a starting place — with the absolute intention to do exactly what we are doing going forward. And that is, get everybody in the room,' Albritton said. 'Anybody else could have brought me language.' Emails obtained by the Times/Herald in a public records request show that, from the beginning, Albritton's office was coordinating the bill's language with Toby Philpot, the chief lobbyist for the Florida Health Care Association."

— " Seminole Tribe says its gaming rights, Florida's revenue payments are at risk again," by Florida Politics' Scott Powers

— " Senate, House snub Gov. DeSantis' push to increase cancer research to $100 million," by Florida Politics' Christine Jordan Sexton

— "Hanna blasts GOP lawmaker as 'bully' for retaliatory state budget item after masks fight," by Tallahassee Democrat's Ana Goñi-Lessan

STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

The daily rundown — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there were 19,138 Covid-19 infections reported on Friday. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that 7,412 hospital beds were being used in the state for Covid-19 patients.

The toll — The Florida Department of Health reported on Friday that there have been 66,279 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

WHAT'S NEXT? — " Florida's fourth COVID surge came fast and strong. Here's what the omicron wave tells us about what's ahead," by Sun Sentinel's Cindy Krischer Goodman: "By now, scientists expected the omicron surge in Florida to be nearly over. Instead, omicron lingers, ensuring its place in the pandemic as the wave that infects more Floridians than all previous waves. The new forecast projects about four more weeks before the omicron wave diminishes to give Floridians a respite.

Let's hope this is right — "While no one knows exactly what COVID-19 is going to do next, most experts see hope in the much larger immune population in the state. Between those who caught the virus during the omicron surge and the increasing number of people who are vaccinated and boosted, much of Florida should have some protection against future variants. 'I can't imagine COVID disappearing but with all the population immunity, future waves may be small and fairly benign,' said Ira Longini, a University of Florida professor of biostatistics and co-creator of the university's omicron model."

MUTUAL APPRECIATION SOCIETY — "Gov. Ron DeSantis touts Florida COVID response, criticizes justices without 'backbone,'" by The Daytona Beach News-Journal's Mark Harper: "And with [Kayleigh] McEnany, now an on-air contributor to Fox News, he was free from having to discuss uncomfortable subjects, such as the 66,000-plus COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic, litigation problems such as the Seminole Tribe gambling agreement and the housing crisis. McEnany said after the initial COVID-19 lockdowns, [President Donald] Trump in May 2020 declared all churches 'essential' and free to be open for worship. [Gov. Ron] DeSantis, she noted, had already done that a month earlier. 'You do not throw people's rights out the window,' DeSantis said. 'That was just something we didn't want to do, particularly when you saw states closing houses of worship but ... liquor stores could operate, strip clubs, you name it.'"

— " DeSantis, state AG's pledge to investigate GoFundMe removing page for Canadian vaccine mandate protest," by The Hill's Chloe Folmar

— " Two men in Miami stole 192 ventilators, worth $3 million, the authorities say, " by The New York Times' Eduardo Medina

PENINSULA AND BEYOND

A DECADE LATER — " Trayvon Martin should have turned 27 today. His family found some joy in the struggle," by Miami Herald's C. Isaiah Smalls II: "That tragedy birthed the Trayvon Martin Foundation, created by his parents Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, which held their annual walk Saturday in Miami Gardens to celebrate his legacy. Featuring rousing speeches, performances and even a Jamie Foxx appearance, the festivities reminded the world that Martin's spirit and the fiery, political consciousness it sparked will never be extinguished. 'I wish we were here on a more celebratory occasion but we have to do what we have to do,' Fulton said to the audience."

TROUBLING TREND — " Rising antisemitism in South Florida and beyond fuels concern and determination in Jewish community," by Sun Sentinel's Anthony Man: "The incidents are part of what Jewish community leaders and others said is a disturbing trend: an increase in the number of antisemitic incidents, some violent, others aimed at instilling fear. 'Both locally and nationally, we have seen steady increases in antisemitism and all forms of bigotry over the past few years,' said Lonny Wilk, interim regional director of the Anti-Defamation League in Florida. 'It's something new every day now,' said U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Broward/Miami-Dade County Democrat who was the first Jewish woman from Florida elected to Congress."

— " South Florida's rent crisis: Some no longer can afford their longtime homes as rents rise by much as 40%," by Sun Sentinel's Amber Randall

— " 10 Cuban migrants rescued from sinking vessel off Florida ," by The Associated Press

— " SpaceX, NASA looking into sluggish chutes on last 2 flights ," by The Associated Press

— " Gaetz friend asks for sentencing delay as he works with feds," by The Associated Press

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ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN

— " The Last Oyster Tongers of Apalachicola ," by David Hanson for The Bitter Southerner: "At 60 years old, Kendall Schoelles, pronounced shell-ess, has never worked a land job. This morning, like most others, he drops his anchor, a rusted engine block, into 5 feet of latte-colored water, grabs a 10-foot-long rake handle made of pine, and steps to the edge of the boat. The rake's handles cut a V against dawn's cobalt sky. Then, as it drops in the water, the teeth clawing for shells make a muffled crunch. Schoelles harvests oysters from beds his grandfather established in the early 1900s, 11 miles west of Apalachicola, Florida. He's made his living aboard this 22-foot plywood skiff since 1984."

BIRTHDAYS: State Rep. Brad Drake … former Rep. Allen West

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